The Rough Patch (book) facts for kids
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| Author | Brian Lies |
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| Publisher | Harper Collins |
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Publication date
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August 14, 2018 |
| Pages | unpaged |
| Awards | Caldecott Medal |
| ISBN | 9780062671271 |
| OCLC | 999583844 |
The Rough Patch is a picture book from 2018 by Brian Lies. It tells the story of a fox named Evan. Evan loves his dog very much, but then something sad happens. The book shows how Evan feels and how he finds happiness again. This book was very popular and won a special award called the Caldecott Honor in 2019. People really liked the beautiful pictures in the book.
The Story of Evan
Evan is a fox who acts like a human. He loves his dog very much. They do everything together, especially working in their favorite garden. One day, Evan's dog dies. This makes Evan very sad.
Evan buries his dog and stays inside his house. He feels bitter and angry. In his anger, he destroys the garden they both loved. Weeds start to grow in the garden. Evan decides to take care of these weeds. He wants the garden to be the saddest place possible.
But then, a pumpkin starts to grow. Instead of destroying it, Evan takes care of the pumpkin. It grows very big. He takes the pumpkin to the fair. Even though he is still sad, Evan has fun at the fair. He also sees his friends again.
Evan's pumpkin wins third prize. He first thinks about taking money. But then, he decides to take home a new puppy instead.
Pictures and Meaning
Brian Lies used different art materials for the book's pictures. He used acrylic paints, oil paints, and colored pencils. The pictures show how Evan is feeling. They help tell the story of his sadness.
Lies also used colors and light in a special way. At the beginning, the colors are bright and happy. After the dog dies, the pictures become darker. This shows Evan's sad feelings. The way the words and pictures work together is also important.
What the Story Means
A big part of the book is about how Evan deals with his sadness. The book never directly says he is "grieving." But it shows all the feelings he has. The garden in the story is like Evan's feelings. It is bright and lively at first. Then it is destroyed when he is sad and angry. Finally, it becomes hopeful when the pumpkin grows.
The book shows that feelings are just feelings. They are not good or bad. Through this journey, Evan becomes ready to love again. Brian Lies, the author, says the book is about hope.
